Stone-channeling machine



G. D. HUNTER.

STONE CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. 1915.

'1 3 1 3, 82 1 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

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llllllllll STAES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE DUNN HUNTER, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVANMACHINERY COMPANY, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed August 25, 1915. Serial No. 47,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stone-ChannelingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to in'iprovements in an operating mechanism forstone channeling machines of the direct acting type that is veryeilicient in operation and utilizes a minimum number of parts.

Heretofore in the stone channeling art to provide an operating mechanismfor the fluid pressure cylinder actuating the gang steels or cutters ofa stone channeling machine when it is desired to vary the force impartedto the cutters, due to the condition of the stone or formation to bechanneled, it has been customary to adjust the valve operating stem tovary the reversing position of the valve by means of a turn buckle, orother screw adjustments. These structures have proven unsatisfactory asthey all require the utilizing of considerable time to make the accurateadjustments. To adjust the controlling valve after the same has been setby the prior constructions much time is lost between each adjustment andthe different reversing positions of the valve are also very often setat the wrong point, this requiring the valve stem to be readjusted, orreset, a number of times before the exact adjustment is obtained inorder to have the valve reverse at the proper point to give thenecessary power to the cutters. The form of adjusting means heretoforeemployed has been such that shocks or jar of the machine very soonloosens these adjusting devices.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an operatingmechanism of the character described, overcoming the chilicultiesheretofore encountered and comprising generally a valve controllingmechanism of simple construction whereby the valve may be caused toreverse at different points. with means for fixedly securing the valvein its adjusted position. In this way the force imparted to the gangsteels or cutters may be varied and positively held in the desiredposition to accord With the conditions of the material upon which themachine is working. This is accomplished by adjusting the valve stem tocause the valve to reverse at different predetermined points within thevalve chest, correspondingly controlling the movement of the actuatingpiston for the cutters. It will, of course, be apparent that theadjustment of the valve stem controlling the reversing valve isfrequently necessary, due to the fact that as the distance of the cutincreases a more powerful blow of the cutter is required to enable therapid and success ful operation of the machine, and it is essential thatthe adjustment be such that it can be instantly and accurately made atthe will of the operator.

Structurally speaking, the invention comprises a rocking valve leveractuated by means of a suitable driving connection with thereciprocating piston which drives the gang steels or cutters, the levercarrying an adjustable eccentric pin upon which the valve stem ismounted and whereby the valve may be set to reverse at any point. If itis desired to increase the force imparted to the cutters the eccentricpin is adjusted so that the valve takes a relatively long stroke beforereversing, this allowing the piston to reciprocate in such a manner thatconsiderable force is applied to the cutters. If a very light blow ofthe cutters is all that is necessary, the eccentric pin is turned tosuch a position that the valve reverses at a predetermined point and thepiston actuating the cutters reverses at a point above the center lineof the cyllnder, it, of course, being understood that any desiredadjustments of the valve stem can be made in keeping with the necessaryforce needed by the cutters for insuring the rapid channeling of therock.

In the drawings, in Figures 1 to 4 1nclusive, I have illustrated apreferred embodiment of the invention and in F1gs. 5 and 6, a slightlymodified construction.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevation, partly broken away, a machineconstructed in accordance with the invention.

' section of the stone" channeling machine forming no part of thepresent invention but merely shown to illustrate the applica tion of thepresent device to the machine. Carried by the machine 1 is the cutter operating cylinder 2 provided with the ordinary reciprocating piston 3 andpiston rod 4 secured to the reciprocating cross-head 5, to which thestone channelers or cutters 6, of any desired shape or form, areattached. The cylinder 2 is of the fluid pressure, type and iscontrolled by a reciprocating reversing valve 7, to be later described.

Arranged adjacent the cylinder is the steam chest or casing 8 having aport 9 leading thereto and inlet and exhaust ports 30 and 31,respectively, leading therefrom and controlled by the reversingreciprocating valve 7 mounted within the chest and actuated by the valvestem 12. The inlet ports 30 communicate with inlet passages 3-2 in thecylinder wall and leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder, whilethe exhaustport 31 communicates with an exhaust passage 33, also in thecylinder wall, and leading to the atmosphere. The reversing valve 7 isof the ordinary type now in use and a detail description thereof is notthought to be necessary. 'The valve stem 12 has attached thereto at itslower end a connecting mem- V leer-13 having an aperture 14 passingtherethrough to permit the attachment of the link 15, which is securedat its opposite end .tothe lever 16 by means of the eccentric pin 17carried by said lever and a usual link sleeve 15 preferably formedintegral with the link 15. The valve lever 16 is provided with a yokeportion 18 near one end for the reception of the eccentric pin 17 uponwhich the valve stem 12 is mounted. At its outer end the valve lever 16has an apertured collar 19 pivotally mounted in any suitable manner on asupporting bar 20 to permit this lever to have a rocking movement toreciprocate the valve when the machine is in operation. The opposite endof the lever 16 is provided with a yoke 21 connected by a suitable linkto the power head 15 at its lower end, causing the reversing valve to bereciprocated when the cutters are in operation. y

In the stone channeling machine art it has been found that when the cutor channel within the stone increases in depth the force imparted to thecutter must also be inthe eccentric isrotated.

creased to provide means whereby the travel of the valve controlling thesteam inlet to the cylinder may be varied to accordingly vary thereversing position of the piston within the cylinder. Frequently thematerial being acted upon is of a rather soft nature, and when themachine is operating on this kind of material a very light blow of thecutter is all that is necessary. By allowing the piston to be reversedat the center'line or above the center line of the cyl-inder the forceimparted to the cutter will be necessarily relatively light. Then again,stone of different degrees of hardness may be encountered, and in orderto secure the more effective operation of the machine it is necessarythat the stroke of the piston be capable of being increased or decreasedat frequent intervals to correspondingly control the power given to thecutters, this being accomplished by adjusting the stem operating thereversing valve so that the valve reverses at different points, it beingessential that the adjustment be made and maintained as rapidly aspossible and absolutely accurate, so that it is not necessary to resetthe valve stem adjusting member, as ordinarily occurs with the oldertypes of machines. To adjust the travel of the valve stem of the presentdevice in keeping with the condition of the material being acted uponand to lock the adjustable parts posi tively in position, the eccentricpin 17 carried by the yoke portion 18 of the valve lever is rotatablymounted so that the travel of the valve may be lengthened or shortenedat the will of the operator to properly control the force acting uponthe cutters.

The eccentric pin 17 is provided with bearing portions 21 and 21 neareach end thereof, journaled within the arms 22 and 22' of the yokeportion-'18 of the valve lever 16. The bearing portion 21 of theeccentric pin is provided with one or more projections or studs 23projecting from its outer portion and entering the cutout portions 24 inthe periphery of the bearing 21 Any suitable form of turning handle maybe used, but the preferred construction comprises a turning pin 22entering the socket 23 in the extended portion of the bearing by whichThe opposite portion 21 of the eccentric pin is reduced in diameter andhas mounted thereon a coil spring 25 bearing against the side of the arm22 and engaging a'collar 26 secured to the outer end of the bearing bymeans of a cotter pin orany suitable fastening and normally holding theeccentric pin in such a position that the projections or studs 23 aresame is pulled out of the engaging notch.

which depresses against the tension of the coil spring 25 and rotated tothe proper position, at which time the coil sprlng causes thecooperating parts to engage each other as shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 5and G of the drawings I have illustrated a modification of a fasteningmeans for holding the eccentric pin in different positions ofadjustment. In this construction the bearing portion 22' of the valveoperating arm is provided with a plurality of apertures 27 passingtherethrough, and the eccentric pin also has a series of notchesarranged for engagement with a cotter pin 28 that passes through onepair of the notches of the arm 22 and engages the cut-out portions ornotches within the pin, retaining this pin in its adjusted position. I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation ofthedevice is as follows:

WVhen it is desired to have the gang steels or cutters deliver a veryhard blow, the eccentric pin 17 is turned with its high part uppermost,thus causing a late reverse of the valve and allowing the piston to makesubstantially a complete stroke before reversing. If, however, thecutters are being operated with a greater degree of force thannecessary, the high part of the eccentric pin is swung around to a lowerposition, causing an early reversing of the valve, the piston alsoreversing at a point above the center line of the cylinder, so that theforce imparted to the cutters is very slight. When a medium stroke isrequired the eccentric pin is shifted to the intermediate point, theeccentric pin at this point causing the valve to be reversed when thepiston is substantially on the center line of the cylinder, and thuscausing the piston to deliver a medium amount of force to the cutters.It will be apparent that any desired number of adjustments of theeccentric pin can be made, these adjustments corresponding in number 'tothe number of retaining notches or cut-out portions arranged in thevalve lever so that the stroke of the valve rod may be accurately variedfrom time to time to accord with the conditions of the material uponwhich the machine is working by the mere adjustment or turning of theeccentric pin.

In connection with the operation of my improved mechanism, it will alsobe noted that it is not only possible, by the adjustment of theeccentric into the position shown in Fig. 3, or into a position 180therefrom, to adjust the travel of the valve without varying the time ofaction thereof, but it is also possible, by adjusting the eccentric intoits intermediate positions, to adjust, not only the travel of the valve,but the time of action of the same. Thus, in the operation of thechanneler, the runner may not only conveniently adjust the travel of thevalve in such a manner as to vary the amount of pressure fluid suppliedto the channeling motor, and thereby vary the force of the blow, but heis also able to vary the time of operation of the valve in such a manneras to tend to vary the travel of the piston within the cylinder and thusobtain a variation in the blow even when the power supplied is constant.For example, it will be noted that, should the pressure fluid supply below, the runner is able to maintain or even increase the power of theblow obtainable by varying the time of operation of the valve in such amanner as to tend to increase the travel of the piston, since, as thisincrease in piston travel is prevented by engagement of the cutting toolwith the rock, the result is an increase in the power of the blow. Inthis last instance, it will also be noted that it is unnecessary for theoperator to make any other adjustment, a single simple adjustment of theeccentric into one of the intermediate positions serving both to adjustthe travel of the valve and the time of actuation thereof. This is afeature of decided merit, as not only is the time of av skilled runnersaved by the elimination of the necessity for any additional adjustmentwhen it is necessary to adjust both the travel and time of operation ofthe valve. but the difliculties arising from inaccuracies of such pluraladjustments by an unskilled runner are largely eliminated, the mechanismbeing so simple that even the average runner may very readily learn theeffects on the cut-off valve of the several positions of the eccentric,and thus readily and quickly adjust the eecentric to the particularconditions under which the machine is operating.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice. it will be noted that theform shown herein is used for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be embodied in various other forms without departing fromits spirit. it being my intention to include all such modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter. a motorfor driving said cutter. a valve for said motor. operating mechanism forsaid valve. a movable eccentric carried by said mechanism for changingthe reversing positions of the valve. and means for positively lockingthe eccentric to the operatingmcchanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a stone channeling machine. of a cutter, a motorfor driving said cutter, a valve for controlling said motor, valveactuating mechanism associated with said valve, a bodily movable ec-;

ciated With said valve, a bodily movable rotatable eccentric carried bysaid actuating mechanism for varying the reversing movement of thevalve, and means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjustedposition, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidmotor for driving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve controll ngmechanism comprising a rocking lever and a valvestem, an eccentricmounted on said rocking lever and connected with the stem, means foradjusting said eccentric to vary the reversing position of the valve,and means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjusted positionto the valve lever substantially as described, 7

5. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of acutter, a fluidmotor fordriving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve; controllingmechanism comprismg a rocking valve lever, and a valve stem, aneccentric mounted on said rocking lever and con-' nected withthe stem,and -means for adjusting said eccentric to change the reversing positionof the valve, and means for positively locking said eccentric in itsadjusted position, substantially'as described.

6. The combination. in a'stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidpressure motor for driving said cutter, a valve for said motor, anoperating mechanism for said valve comprising a movable lever, an eccentrio carried bv said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating thevalve connected to said eccentric, means for adjusting said eccentric tochange the reversing position of the valve, and means for locking theeccentrio in its adjusted position to the movable lever, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidpressure motor for driving said cutter, a valve for said motor, anoperating mechanismfor ,said valve comprising a-movable lever, aneccentric carried by said lever, a valve operating stem for actuatingthe valve connected to said eccentric, and means for adjusting saideccentric tochange the reversing position of the valve, means forpositively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantiallyas described. 7

for actuating the valve connected with the eccentric, and means foradjusting said eccentric whereby the reversing position of the valvemaybe varied, and an interlocking connection between the eccentric andvalve lever whereby the eccentric is positively locked in its adjustedposition.

9. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidpressure motor for said cutter, a reciprocating valve for said motor, anoperating mechanism for the reciprocating valve comprising a rockingvalve lever, a rotatably mounted eccentric carried by said lever, avalve operating stem for actuating the valve mounted on said eccentric,and means comprising interlocking teeth adapted to engage the rockinglever for retaining the eccentric in its adjusted position,substantially as described.

10. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a motordriving said cutter, a controlling mechanism for said motor, and abodily movable'adjustable eccentric carried by said controlling mechanism, for varying the force impartedto the cutter, and means forpositively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position tothecontrolling mechanism,- substantially as described.

11. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidpressure motor having a piston therein for driving said cutter, a valvefor said motor, means for actuating said valve comprising a movablelever, a movable eccentric pin having a bearing position carried by saidlever, a valve operating stemconnected, with' said eccentric pin, andmeans for moving said eccentric pin to change the reversing posi-, tionof the valve, substantially as described.

12. The combination in, a stone cutting machine, of a-cutter, a fluidmotor for said cutter, avalve for. said motor, a valve controllingmechanism comprising a rocking lever having a yoke portion near one endthereof, an eccentric pin 'mounted in said yoke portion, a valveoperating stem connected to the eccentric, and m.eans -for adjustingsaid eccentric to vary the stroke of the valve.- 7

13. The combination in a stone cutting machine, of a cutter, a fluidmotor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controllingmechanism for said valve comprispin journaled in said yoke portion, avalve operating stem connected with said eccentric, and means comprisinga pin and socket connection between said eccentric and rocking arm forpositively retaining the same in its adjusted position.

14:. The combination in a stone channeling machine of a cutter, a fluidmotor for driving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve controllingmechanism comprising a rocking lever and valve stem, an eccentric havinga bearing portion at each end thereof journaled in said rocking lever,and means for adjusting said eccentric to vary the reversing position ofthe valve, the said eccentric and valve stem adapted to be lockedtogether to positivelyretain the eccentric in its adjusted position.

The combination ina stone cutting machine of a cutter, a fluid motor forsaid cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanismcomprising a rocking lever having a yoke pOItiOIl, an eccentric pinhaving bearing portions at each end journaled in the yoke, a valveoperating stem connected with the eccentric, and means for adjustingsaid stem to vary the stroke of the valve.

16. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidmotor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controllingmechanism comprising a rocking lever having a yoke portion, an eccentricpin having bearing portions at each end journaled in the yoke, a valveoperating stem connected with the eccentric, means for ad justing saidstem to vary the stroke of the valve, and a resilient member carried byone of the bearin portions for retaining the eccentric in a loc edposition when the same has been adjusted.

17 The combination in a stone cutting machine, of a cutter, a fluidmotor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controllingmechanism comprising a rocking lever and an eccentric pin having bearingportions at each end thereof journaled on said lever, a valve operatingstem connected to said eccentric, and an extension projecting from oneof the bearing members of the eccentric to ermit the attachment of ahandle thereto 'or adjusting the said eccentric to vary the stroke ofthe valve.

18.. The combination in a stone channelin machine, of a cutter, a fluidmotor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controllingmechanism comprising a rocking lever, and an eccentric pin havingbearing portions at each end thereof journaled on said lever, a valveoperating stem connected to said eccentric, an extension projecting fromone of the bearing members of the eccentric to permit the attachment ofa handle thereto for adjusting the said eccentric to vary the stroke ofthe valve, and a resilivalve to be simultaneousl ent member on the otherof said bearing portions of the eccentric for retaining the eccentricafter the same has been adjusted in a locked position.

19. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluidpressure motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, an operatingmechanism for the valve comprising a rocking valve lever, an eccentriccarried by said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating the valveconnected to the cocentric, and an interlocking connection between therocking lever and eccentric for retaining the eccentric in its adjustedposition, substantially as described.

20. The combination in a stone channeling machine, oi a cutter, a fluidpressure motor having a iston therein for driving said cutter, a valvefor the motor, means for actuating the valve comprising a movable lever,an eccentric carried by said lever, a valve stem attached to the valveand connected with said eccentric, means for moving the eccentric tochange the reversing position of the valve, and meansior locking theeccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

21. In combination, a tool, a driving metor therefor, a motorcontrolling valve, an operating member therefor, operative connectionsbetween said member and motor, an adjustable valve controlling eccentriccarried by said connections, and means for holding the eccentric in itsadjusted positions.

The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, amotor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve for said motor, mechanismoperated by said motor tor automatically actuating said valve, and asingle adjustable means in said mechanism for causing the automaticactuation of said valve to be varied both as to the travel and the timeof operation thereof.

23. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channelingcutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve for said motor,mechanism operated by said motor for automatically actuating said valve,and a single adjustable means in said mechanism for causing theautomatic actuation of said varied both as to the travel and the time 0toperation thereof.

24. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channelingcutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a cut-off valve forsaid motor, mechanism operated by said motor for automatically actuatingsaid cut-off valve, and means in said mechanism including an adjustableeccentric for causing the automatic actuation of said valve to be variedboth as to the travel and the time of operation thereof.

25. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channelingcutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a cut-off valve forsaid motor, actuating mechanism for said cut-off valve operated by saidmotor, means including an adjustable eccentric for si1nultaneouslyadjusting both the travel and the time of operation of said cut-01fvalve, and means for holding said eccentric in each poand the time ofoperation of the valve.

27. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channelingcutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve forsaid motor,actuating mechanism for said valve operated by said motor, and a singleadjustable means including a rotatable eccentric adjustable into oneposition to vary the travel of the valve without varying the time ofoperation thereof and adjustable into another position to Vary both thetravel and the time of operation of the valve.

28.- In combination, a valve lever, a pin journaled therein having aneccentric p0rtion, a valve stem carried on said eccentric portion, aprojection formed on said pin receivable in a notch in said lever, andresilient means between said lever and pin nor- 'mally holdingsaid'projection seated. in said notch.

29. In combination, atool, a driving motor therefor, a motor controllingvalve, and

operating mechanism for said valve comprising a movable lever, anadjustable eccentric carried by said lever, a valve stem connected tosaid eccentric, and means for locking said eccentric in adj ustedposition to said lever.

30. In combination, a tool, a driving motor therefor, a motorcontrolling valve, and operating mechanism for said valve comprising amovable lever, an adjustable eccentric carried by said lever, a valvestem connected to said eccentric, and means comprising interlockingteeth on said eccentric 32. In combination, a percussive tool, a

driving motortherefor, a motor controlling valve, mechanism operated by.said motor for actuating said valve, and a single adjustable meansincluding a rotatable eccentric adjustable, into one position to varythe travel of the valve without varying the time of operation thereofand adjustable into another position to vary both the travel and thetime of operation of the valve.

' 33. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a channelingtool or gang, an actuating motor therefor comprising a fluid pressurecylinder and a piston therein," a valve for said motor,and mechanism foroperating said valve from said piston including an adjustable eccentricand means for holding said eccentric in adjusted position.

34. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a channelingtoolor gang, an actuating motor therefor comprising a fluid pressurecylinder and a piston therein, a valve for said motor, and mechanism foroperating said valve from, saidpiston 1 in cluding a valve stem, arocking lever, an adjustable eccentric, and means for hold ing saideccentric in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature'in presence of twowitnesses.

DUNN HUNTER. Witnesses;

J- W. OHA'RRoNs, LYMAN FULK.

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